Climbing miniature rose plant named ‘SPRolife’

ABSTRACT

‘SPRolife’ is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, classified as a miniature climber. It is primarily identified by its miniature-sized, orange-red and white striped flowers borne in large clusters on long and arching canes with abundant, miniature-sized foliage. The plant can be trained as a climber or allowed to grow freestanding, where its canes will arch and form a large mound or shrub of 5 to 6 feet tall and spreading 3 feet or more from center. The plant has been noted to have very good resistance to powdery mildew.

CROSS REFERENCE

This new invention bears resemblance to an earlier cross of ‘MACminmo’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,319) by ‘FOUmich’ (not patented), from this samebreeding program. The primary similarity is that both are striped. Theunintroduced seedling is pink and ivory while this new invention,‘SPRolife’, is orange-red and white.

RIGHTS TO THE INVENTION

Be it known that James A. Sproul of Bakersfield, Calif., claimsinvention of new and useful improvements in ROSE PLANT/var. ‘SPRolife’and following is a clear and exact description of the same.

Genus and species: Rosa hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘SPRolife’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to a new and distinct, tall (or climbing)variety of hardy and well branched type plant of the miniature roseclass. This new variety was created by James A. Sproul at his nursery inBakersfield, Calif., under conditions of careful control andobservation, as a result of crossing the following two rose plants:

The seed parent is ‘MACminmo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,319).

The pollen parent is ‘JACpoy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,015).

The objective in making the cross for ‘SPRolife’, was to get a moreexciting coloring on a disease resistant, striped mini climber than thecoloring of ‘MACminmo’. The seed parent, ‘MACminmo’, has above averagedisease resistance and flowers with red white wide and narrow stripesand flecks borne in pyramidal clusters and flowers averaging 14 petals.It is a miniature shrub with arching canes. The pollen parent, ‘JACpoy’,is a yellow and orange-red blend, cluster-flowered, compact rose of theminiature class with good disease resistance to powdery mildew and rust.

The present invention, ‘SPRolife’, has striped flowers, borne inclusters on long arching canes, similar to its seed parent, ‘MACminmo’,and with similar flower form. New foliage appears “bronze colored” butnot as dark as that of the seed parent, with some light green showingthrough. The coloring of the flowers of ‘SPRolife’ is red and white withthe red being closer to and the same as the orange-red found in‘JACpoy’, rather than the red of its seed parent.

Another trait of this new invention is related to the clusters. Inspring, there are more clusters on this new invention, similar to itsseed parent, ‘MACminmo’, with many having 20 and more flowers percluster. Repeat blooming of the plant is in clusters that may be inpyramidal form as found on ‘MACminmo’ but more of them having only 5 to7 flowers, as is more common to ‘JACpoy’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of theminiature rose class, with well branched, upright and arching planthabit. The characteristics distinguishing it from its parents and fromall other varieties of which I am aware are its unique combination ofits oranges-red and white striped flowers, the size and form of itsclusters of those flowers, the size and petal count of its flowers, itsvigorous and arching plant habit and its percentage of seven leafletleaves. Those varieties that this new invention seems to bear anyresemblance to are all offspring of ‘MACminmo’. None have all of theabove-mentioned unique combination of characteristics.

The variety is further characterized by:

-   -   Canes that arch over from the weight of their large clusters of        buds and flowers, creating a plant that reaches up to 6 feet        wide and with flowering stems branching from those growing to a        height of 5 to 6 feet    -   Canes growing 4 to 5 feet and more in length, always terminating        in a cluster of flowers before any lateral or flowering stems        begin to grow along that cane    -   Clusters having anywhere from 5 to 20 or more buds and flowers    -   An abundance of medium-green leaves generally located around        ¾-inch apart the entire length of the canes and flowering stems;        these leaves primarily having 7 leaflets    -   New light green growth flushed bronze    -   A plant with tremendous vigor    -   Exceptional resistance to powdery mildew

Possible uses: This new invention might be trained as a climber, used asa specimen plant or in borders. It will do well in a very largecontainer but requires frequent watering.

Subsequent to the origination of the cultivar, it was reproducedsuccessfully, asexually, in Bakersfield, Calif., and Arroyo Grande,Calif., by budding as well as by cuttings. The reproductions have runtrue in all respects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photograph taken in the spring, shows a portionof a plant of this new invention, in full bloom, as grown inBakersfield, Calif. Buds and blooms in all stages of development arevisible as well as new and older foliage and stems.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   Genus/species: Rosa hybrida.-   Commercial class: Miniature rose, climbing.-   Varietal denomination: ‘SPRolife’.

The following observations, measurements, values and comparisonsdescribe 4 to 5 year old plants of Rosa hybrida, ‘SPRolife’, growingoutdoors in Essex County Mass., in 3 gallon, plastic nursery containers,in an artificial soil and compost mixture and fertilized at every otherwatering, weather permitting, with complete water-soluble plant foods,highest in phosphorus. Color references are made using The RoyalHorticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, except wherecommon terms of color are used.

FLOWERS

Blooming habit: cyclic, throughout the growing season.

Borne in large clusters. The first flush of bloom in the spring hasnumerous, huge clusters, often with 20 or more buds and flowers. Theremainder of the year, the clusters tend to be smaller with 5 to 9flowers.

-   Bud:    -   -   Size.—⅜ of an inch in length and ⅜ inch diameter at the            widest point just before the sepals divide.        -   Form.—Ovoid with a cuspidate apex and an obtuse base.        -   Color.—When sepals first divide the first colors most often            seen are white, near 155D, and Fire Red, near 33B.-   Sepals:    -   -   Color.—Outer surface is Lettuce Green, near 144A, flushed            with near 183D from the greyed-purple group; inside surface            appears a dark yellow-green near 147B.        -   Characteristics.—Shape and size is ovate-lanceolate with a            truncate base and an acuminate apex; extending 10/32-to            11/32-inch beyond the tip of the bud just before the sepals            start to divide. Inside surface is pubescent; outer surface            is matte, coriaceous and glandular. All sepals have ciliate            margins.

There are usually 6 sepals, one being somewhat smaller and inside theothers. It is not unusual to find one or two dimorphic sepals that havepartial characteristics of the petals, including texture, color andform.

Two sepals have one or two very small, linear, foliar appendages nearthe tip often along only one margin. The size of these two foliatedsepals is about 9/32 inch wide and their lengths may be equal, varyingfrom 15/16-inch to 1 2/16-inches and one may be 1/16-inch longer thanthe other.

Three sepals are slightly smaller, varying between 8/32- and 12/32-inchwide and from 24/32- to 31/32-inch long. The sixth and inner sepal isnot more than 7/32-inch wide but may be conjoined with one of the othersepals having a combined width of ⅜-inch about ⅓ of the way up from thebase. At that point the conjoined sepals divide into two separate upperportions with the upper portions appearing as the corresponding sepals.

The sepals begin rolling back with the petals. One may then proceedahead of the petals and when the flower is full open, 3 or 4 sepalscontinue to roll back until they are parallel with the peduncle, leaving2 or 3 sepals adjacent to the petals. The sepals detach from thereceptacle before the hip begins to form.

-   Bloom:    -   -   Size.—At exhibition stage the circumference of the blossom            is circular. Its diameter measures 1¾-inches across and its            depth is 11/16-inch. When fully expanded it is not circular,            measuring 2¼-inches by either 2⅛- or 1 13/16-inches across            and 11/16- to ¾-inch deep.        -   Form.—Opens with flat upper profile and cupped lower            profile; full open, both the upper and lower profiles are            flat and the sides are ruffled.

Petalage under normal conditions in Essex County, Mass., is 23 to 28. InKern County, Calif., the petal count may be only half that, around 14petals.

-   -   -   Petaloids.—1 to 9 but most often, 4.

Fragrance is slight in the full open bloom.

-   Petals:    -   -   Texture and appearance.—Both surfaces are glabrous. The            upper surface is velvety and the under surface is satiny.        -   Form/shape.—Outer petals are rotundate to broad fan shaped.            Intermediate petals are broad fan shaped and inner petals            are narrower and fan shaped. Base is ovate. Margin is            entire. The outer edges are rounded with cuspidate apex.        -   Length and width of outermost petals.—Width varies from            around ⅞-inch to 1 1/16-inches with 1-inch being the most            common width. Length varies from 11/16- to 1 1/16-inches            with 15/16-inch being the most common length.        -   Arrangement.—Imbricated.        -   Persistence.—From the time the sepals first divide to open            bloom ranges from 4 to 7 days. The petals usually drop off            cleanly, 5 to 8 days later.        -   Color.—When sepals divide the reverse is Buttercup Yellow,            near 16C, at the base and becoming near 158B from the            yellow-white group in the basal area; the outer edges have            streaks of a near white from the orange group, near 27D, a            whiter white, near 159D, and Coral Pink, near 38D. During            the first few days the color of inner and outer petals and            the petaloides is the same. The petals have stripes, streaks            and flecks of Signal Red, near 43A, and stripes, streaks and            flecks of Naples Yellow, near 11C, and Empire Yellow, near            11D. The basal area is Naples Yellow and may be near 11B or            11C or may have both shades of Naples Yellow. The point of            attachment is even darker yellow, near 11A. Occasionally the            outer petals may be solid Signal Red, down to the basal            area, but have never been noticed to be solid yellow or            white.

The color on the reverse of the petals is actually showing through fromthe upper surface, Some areas appear Scarlet, near 43D, and some areasappear Azalea Pink, near 41C, some appear Jasper Red, near 39C and someappear near 11C and some near 11D. The Basal area is near 11B and thepoint of attachment is near 11A.

When the flower is half blown the outer petals have stripes, streaks andflecks of Capsicum Red, near 33A, the same shade as found in ‘JACpoy’,and stripes streaks and flecks of white, near 159D, or lighter yellows,near 11C and near 11D. The basal area is Chrome Yellow, near 15D, andthe point of attachment is Buttercup Yellow, near 15B. The reverse hassome stripes, streaks and flecks of Empire Yellow, near 11D, and some ofwhite, near 159D, as well as areas showing through that appear ChineseCoral, near 32D and a few that appear Carrot Red, near 29C. The basalarea is a darker Chrome Yellow, near 14D, and the point of attachment isa very deep yellow, near 11A.

The orange-red coloring of the intermediate petals is a little lighter,near 32A, Indian Orange. The yellows are near the same as the outerpetals. The stripes, streaks and flecks of inner petals appears morered, near 43A, Signal Red, and a color between 43A and 33A, and theyellows are often more orange, being near 15D, a Chrome Yellow. Thebasal area is near 15D and the point of attachment is near 15B,Buttercup Yellow. The reverse has some stripes, streaks and flecks ofnear 11C and near 11D, and near 41D, a light Mandarin Red. Basal area isnear 12C, Aureolin, and darker at the point of attachment, near 12A.

As the bloom ages the most noticeable colors go to near 40A, DutchVermilion, and a pure white at the center of the flower and near 52A,Crimson, and near 52B, Carmen, and pure white on the outer petals. Justbefore the petals drop, stripes streaks and flecks are pure white andCarmine Rose, near 52C and near 52D. The basal area is Sulphur Yellow,near 6C, and white, near 155D. The point of attachment is near 4D,Primrose Yellow. The reverse is near pure white and Venetian Pink, near49C, and French Rose, near 49D, with a basal area of near 155D and 11D,and point of attachment, near 11C.

There is little or no further fade before the petals drop.

Varying soil conditions, light intensity and other varying climaticconditions does alter the yellow tonation in the colors of the flowers,as well as the petal count and the degree of bronze on the new foliage.

The general tonality of this rose is orange-red and white stripes withsome yellow, especially near the center of the flowers. From a distance,this rose may appear red and white striped or, under optimum conditions,orange and white striped.

-   Petaloids: The texture is the same as that of the petals.

There are 1 to 9 petaloids with 4 being the most common number found.

-   -   -   Size.—Width is 3/32- to ½-inch at the widest point and 9/32-            to 15/16-inch long        -   Unique characteristics.—Petaloides are deformed petals,            following no pattern. They may be half a petal either            vertically or horizontally. They may have a lobed outer            margin. They may be epipetalous, having what appears to be            an anther where the main vein should be. Occasionally they            are attached to the receptacle by a filament.

-   Peduncle: The aspect is straight and its strength is strong. The    length varies from 1¼- to 1½-inches. The diameter is 3/32- to    4/32-inch, becoming 4/32- to 5/32-inch just below the receptacle.    The appearance is semi-glossy with numerous stipitate glands and    some fine hairs. The color is Lettuce Green, near 144A, and may be    flushed with a greyed-purple anthocyanin coloration, between 184B    and 185B, but only on one side.

-   Receptacle: The receptacle is funnel shaped. Its width varies from    7/32- to 9/32-inch but is most often 9/32-inch. Length is 5/16- to    6/16-inch. The appearance is semi-glossy with tiny, fine, appressed    hairs in straight rows. The color is Lettuce Green, near 144A, and    often has some anthocyanin coloring present, between 184B and 185B.

The top surface of the receptacle is circular with a diameter of around5/16-inch. The color of the surface is near 2D, a very lightgreen-yellow.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens, filaments and anthers: Regularly attached along the outer    edge of the receptacle, adjacent to the petals, they are numerous in    quantity, 135 to 160.

Filaments are very thin and 2/16- to 5/16-inch long. Their color is thesame as the receptacle to which they are attached, near 2D.

Anthers are near 21B, Maize Yellow and pollen is near 17B, IndianYellow. The quantity of pollen is only some.

-   Pistils, styles and stigmas: There are only 26 to 30 in quantity.

Styles are thin and straight and bunched together in an alveola in thecenter of the receptacle's surface. The majority are around 3/32-inchlong. There are a few that are around 4/32-inch long and a few aroundthe outer edge of the bunch that are 5/32-inch long. The color of boththe styles and the stigmas is also, near 2D.

-   Hips: The shape is generally somewhat globose with an oblique base.    Occasionally the shape may be oblate, but always with a truncate    top. Hips have been measured at 13/16-inch in diameter and    27/32-inch deep, 25/32-inch diameter and depth, and 23/32-inch    diameter and ⅝-inch deep.

Surface texture is glabrous, matte and may have scabrid areas. As thehips start to mature, they become flushed near 163A and near 163B, fromthe greyed-orange group. When fully ripe the colors are near TangerineOrange, near 24A, Marigold Orange, near 28B, and Persimmon Orange, near28A. Seeds do not protrude from the hip.

PLANT

-   Habit and growth: ‘SPRolife’ is an upright and uniformly, well    branched plant. Its growth is very vigorous. It can reach and    maintain a height of 5 to 6 feet. Some of the individual canes have    been measured up to 5 feet 7 inches long. All canes eventually    terminate in a cluster of buds and flowers. The weight of the    clusters of buds and flowers usually causes the canes to arch,    extending about 3 feet from the center of the plant. In this manner,    the plant can reach to 6 feet wide. Laterals from near the base of    the arched stems, quickly grow upward to give the plant its 5 to 6    foot height. New growth further up the canes is most often shorter,    in varying lengths, starting as short as 2-inches.

Root initiation from cuttings in controlled greenhouse conditions takes6 to 10 days.

-   Foliage: Pinnately compound with 7 leaflets, occasionally with 3    leaflets and even less frequently with 5 leaflets.    -   -   Quantity.—Foliage is abundant. The length of the internodes            on the main stalks is 11/16- to 1-inch, giving 5 to 7 leaves            per five inches of stem length. On the laterals, spacing            varies from 7/16- to 11/16 inch.

Size of mature leaf, from stem to tip, measures 4½-inches to 5¼-incheswhen measured along the rachis. The mature terminal leaflet measures ⅞-to 1 5/16-inches wide at its widest point and 1 11/16- to 2⅝-incheslong.

Leaflets are narrow, ovate-lanceolate with an acuminate apex andnarrowly ovate base.

-   -   -   Margin.—Serration is fine, single and uneven.        -   Color of the foliage.—Anthocyanin coloration is strong on            the young foliage: Both upper and lower surfaces may appear            entirely near 183A from the greyed-purple group or the tips            of those leaflets may appear near 146C, a medium            yellow-green with the anthocyanin coloration of near 183A            increasing in intensity toward the base of the leaflets. In            full sun, on the fourth leaf from the growing tip, near 146C            becomes the dominant color, flushed with a deeper            greyed-purple, near 187A. On the older foliage, the            anthocyanin coloration is gone. The upper surface appears            near 147A, a very dark yellow-green. The under surface is            lighter, a dark yellow-green, near 146A.        -   Appearance.—The upper surface of the new foliage is glossy            and looses that gloss as it ages, with the oldest foliage            appearing matte. The center vein and primary lateral are            depressed. The undersides of the leaflets have the main            veins protruding entirely and the secondary veins protruding            only slightly. The texture is coriaceous.

-   Petiole: The color on young leaf, the upper side is near 145B, a    pale yellow-green, between the stipules. The groove and ridges above    the stipules are near 183A, from the greyed-purple group, or near    145B flushed with near 183 A. The underside is darker, a medium    yellow-green, near 146C, and may be flushed with near 175A, from the    greyed-orange group.

The color on old leaf, the upper side is a dark yellow-green, near 146A,along the ridges and a very light yellow-green, near 145C, in thegroove, down to the stipules when the ridge disappears and the entirepetiole is near 145C. The underside is a medium yellow-green, near 144A.

-   -   -   Texture and appearance.—Upper side of the mature leaf is            glabrous, the underside has 1 to 3 prickles that measure            1/32-inch or may be up to 5/32-inch long, slanted toward the            base of the petiole and hooked at the tip. There also may be            a number of smaller prickles or stipitate glands.

-   Rachis: Length is variable, averaging 1½-inches. The color is the    same as that part of the petiole above the stipules with the    exception that the color in the groove on the upper side of the    older leaf is a dark yellow-green, near 146B.    -   -   Texture and appearance of the rachis.—The upper side is            still glabrous. The underside has 4 to 9 prickles hooked and            slanted toward the base of the rachis.

-   Petiolules: The color on young leaf is near 183A from the greyed    purple group. The underside is Lettuce Green, near 144A flushed with    near 183A. On the old leaf — ridges may still be flushed near 183A    but the groove is a medium yellow-green, near 146D. The underside is    near 146D.

The length differs by location on the leaf: to the terminal leaf thepetiolule is ⅜- to ⅝-inches long with ⅜-inch being the most commonlength; to the first and third pair of leaflets it is usually 1/32-inchlong and to the second pair of leaflets it is usually 1/16-inch long.

-   Stipules: On mature leaves, the overall length within each pair of    stipules located at the base of each petiole is even or near even.    They average about 1-inch long and usually not varying in overall    length by more than 1/16-inch. Attached lengths are between ⅝- and    ⅞-inch. The tips are angled 45° out from the stem, remaining on the    same plane. The length angled out ranges from 5/32- to ⅜-inch on    side and 2/8- to ⅜-inch on the opposing side. The widths are also    variable within each pair, ranging from 5/32-inch and 3/32-inch to    5/32-inch and 6/32-inch.

Margins have an extremely fine serration.

Color is a very dark yellow-green, near 147A, at the outer edges andScheele's Green, near 144B, adjacent to the petiole. The reverse is near147A and near 144A adjacent to the petiole. On young leaves the upperside is flushed with a greyed-orange, near 176B or near 175A.

-   Resistance: ‘SPRolife’ has very good resistance to powdery mildew,    but is susceptible to downy mildew, blackspot, and rust. Resistance    to thrip and rose midge appear to be good but the cultivar is    susceptible to aphids and spider mites.-   Wood: Diameter main stems is 11/32-inch, primary laterals is ⅜- to    ½-inch and flowering stems average ¼-inch diameter.    -   -   New wood.—Texture/appearance is glabrous and glossy. The            color is a medium yellow-green, near 146C.        -   Old wood.—The color is a little darker than that of the new            growth, being between 147B and 146C. The surface is matte.-   Prickles:    -   -   Quantity on main stalks.—Average 4 to 6 per inch, varying            from 3 to 8 and occasionally in two nearly parallel rows            with 10 per inch on the same side of the stem. On primary            laterals and flowering stems there are 2 or fewer per inch.

Length is randomly variable. Longer prickles may be 7/32-, 8/32- and9/32-inch in length and shorter ones may be 2/32-inch and 3/32-inch inlength. Most of the prickles are these lengths. The length of the oblongshaped base is 8/32- to 12/32-inch. The prickle quickly tapers from thatbase length to 3/32- and then to a point, angled down and usually hookedor curved downward at the tip.

Color when young is near 182A, from the greyed-red group and when old,near 199D, from the grey-brown group. Those on the underside of therachis/petiole, when young, are near 182C.

-   Hardiness: Tested hardy in zones 5 through 9, with winter protection    recommended where temperatures go below freezing for extended    periods. Plants held up very well under testing in American    Horticultural Society heat zones 9 through 1.

1. A new and distinct variety of hard, miniature rose plant is claimed,substantially as herein illustrated and described, characterizedparticularly as to novelty by the unique combination of itsminiature-sized, orange-red and white striped flowers borne in largeclusters on long and arching canes with abundant, miniature-sizedleaves, and having very good resistance to powdery mildew.